Summer Takes Up Residence

After what seemed to the longest winter in history, it appears that summer is finally beginning to show signs of remaining for a while, unlike these ridiculous cameos that it made in earlier June.  The majority of the spring has been dry, in the very least, describable as below average, but unfortunately the temperature have followed suit. So cool were the temperatures at night that much of the seed we had sowed in the early spring has only just germinated, much later then normally expected.  

These cooler temperatures without much moisture have both benefits and drawbacks. Being able to control the the amount of moisture in the greens is always a benefit. We see much longer roll in the fairways, the greens will be firmer and faster, and walking is much easier.  So often in the spring we fall victim to the 3 days of sunshine and then a day of rain.  While this creates great growing conditions, it makes playing conditions sloppy and slow.  The drawback to the drought like weather is having to water on a regular basis to maintain spring growing conditions so important to longevity in the summer.  Constant watering means increased leaf wetness, and during periods of cooler night time temperatures this means disease.  Fortunately we know that that eventually the conditions will change and the temperature will come up at night.  If not then we have much larger things to worry about.

   

The left side of number one is progressing well. The seed has germinated and the area looks much better.

Here's a photo from the cart path on number one. Devin is line trimming the edge to tidy it up.

As a request from the green committee we have added an aiming pole to the number one fairway.  There was some confusion as to why a black and white pole was at the 200 yard marker as it was assumed that the pole were 150 markers. The poles are really just aiming devices, however for simplicity's sake we have painted the pole blue and white.

Number nine rough to the left of the fairway is filling in and we will now begin the process of mowing it down to fairway height.

This year we have added irrigation to  the front of the clubhouse.  This is an inexpensive way to reduce costs and better use resources on the course.  Hand watering the annuals as we had in the past will be less common and the lawn should improve greatly.

If you play early enough in the morning you might see these little fellows on the greens.  They are the larval stage of the Crane Fly, often called leather jackets.  While the larva causes very little damage itself, but birds digging for the larva can turn over some turf. Currently the amount of damage caused by the fellows is not enough for action.

Another project we are working on is adding plant material to the clubhouse area.  Dave and I have be building this planter and three more like it to put up on the back deck of the clubhouse.  These will become permanent features that will much improve a rather bland area.

It is that time of year again where the turtles from Fish and Grand Lakes are coming up on shore to lay their eggs in the bunkers.  If a turtle is in the way of your shot please do not attempt to move the turtle.  It will more then likely bite your fingers off and give you salmonella.

If you remember from early fall last year this tree had blown over and we had stood it up and restricted its movement.  At the time I was skeptical that it would survive the spring, but it has.  I am still skeptical it will survive the stress of the summer, but hopefully it proves me wrong.  Below is a photo of the new shoots it produced this spring.

Stay tuned for further updates.